Behind his house, Uncle Dorsey had a summerhouse, a rectangular one room building with windows, that could be lived in. He and Aunt Velma used it to store things that weren't in current use and they didn't want to throw away. Some of the things that were stored there belonged to Grandpa and Grandma Cornell.
There came a time when Mom's parents decided to shed themselves of some of the thing they had in Uncle Dorsey's summer house. Those of Mom's siblings that could assembled there one evening. Grandpa and Grandma were there with their dog, a curly black haired little thing, I think it was either a Terrier or a Scotty. Several coal oil lamps provided the lighting. Everyone was told to look through everything and to take what they wanted. If more than one person wanted a particular item, Grandpa and Grandma would hear them out and decide who would get the item.
Everyone busied themselves choosing things they wanted and I don't recall many instances of any problems with who got what. I believe they worked out any conflicts among themselves.
Suddenly, one of my aunts yelled, "Poppa! A Rat!" There was a series of nails along the Rylie side wall, containing various items of clothing not on hangers. I looked over to see a rat bounding from one bunch of hanging clothing to the next, heading toward the front of the building.
Unfortunately for the rat, Grandpa was standing close to that wall and the rat was rapidly approaching the hanging clothes nearest him. In a lightning fast move, Grandpa's left arm lashed out and he grabbed the rat, yelled, "Midge! Here!" and tossed the rat to her as she ran up. She clamped onto it and it was dead in a moment. I had a great view of the action because I was fortunate enough to be standing facing Grandpa and the back of the building and Midge was just to my right rear when she caught the rat.
I don't believe I've ever seen anyone move with such speed and accuracy. Every time I think of this incident, it's as though a motion picture plays over and over in my mind as I relive the moment.
I believe this to be last time I saw Grandpa and Grandma Cornell.
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